“What is it, Dinny?”
“Shure, sor, we’ve had a long journey, and I’m moighty toired.”
“Then go to bed and have a good sleep.”
“That’s just what I’m axing of yer honour. I want a holiday.”
“What for, Dinny?”
“To go to shlape for a week.”
Dinny had as much sleep as he liked, but he contented himself with twenty-four hours, and then helped to unpack the treasures from the waggon, the store of feathers, skins, and curiosities far more than paying the cost of the expedition, even counting the loss of the horses. The boys’ pets too, the leopard and giraffe, had to be sold, for they could not keep them; but they fetched handsome sums for exportation to Europe.
At last there was nothing to do but to recompense the General and his sons; not that they were going away, for they preferred staying about the farm.
Mr Rogers took his sons into his confidence, and the result was the presentation to the three Zulus of gifts which they esteemed most highly of anything they could receive, and these were the three double rifles of the father and sons, whose accuracy the Zulus had so often seen proved.
Dick was right when he said the present was better than diamonds, for the stern old warrior’s face lit up with joy, and when Coffee and Chicory could be made to understand that they were to have the rifles to keep, their excitement was something wonderful to see.